logo.jpg Archive of Horsforth Beer Festival 2013

Beer glassThe fifth Horsforth Beer and Cider Festival in 2013 was our most successful festival to date.

The festival is organised by St Margaret’s Church and is staffed entirely by volunteers. It was started in 2009 to raise funds towards the building of the Parish Centre, which is now in use by the church and many community organisations.

Keeping the BarAt first we were helped on the technical side by Old Bear Brewery, Keighley, and by Otley Parish Church, who run their own beer festival each November. Over the years we have taken on more responsibility, and in 2013 the fifth festival was run completely by the beer festival committee, supported by an army of volunteers. Around 80 volunteers, mostly from St Margaret’s, contributed to the event.

The 2013 festival raised around £12,000 for church funds which helped St Margaret’s complete a £100,000 programme of work to replace the church’s heating system and carry out essential repairs to the church roof and tower. It costs over £2,000 a week just to keep the church doors open, with any unexpected bills for major repairs on top of that.

View of festivalNine months planning culminated in a beer festival lasting two days, which attracted people from Horsforth, West Yorkshire and further afield. We are told that our festival has a warm, friendly atmosphere, and we know that many people travel some distance each year to attend.

Almost 1600 people paid to come in over the two days and as usual the “house full” signs went up early on Friday evening, as St Margaret’s Hall reached capacity. Our Twitter followers were able to keep up to date with what was happening inside and in the queue via our feed @hors4thbeerfest.

FestivalWe continued to admit people well into Saturday evening as there was still a good selection of beer to choose from. The festival featured 67 different cask beers, many of them seasonal, from a mix of local breweries and breweries from across the UK. We sold over 9,000 glasses of beer (4,500 pints). Only 35 gallons remained overall from 67 firkins, so there wasn’t much to pour away on Sunday morning, when we cleared up the hall!

We featured 20 different ciders, including several ciders new to the festival and the return of some old favourites. Fruit ciders proved particularly popular again. We doubled the amount of cider ordered, as the year before the cider had almost sold out on the first day and more barrels had to be delivered on the Saturday morning. In 2013 we sold over 2,100 glasses of cider (1,050 pints).

North Riding Brew Pub logoNorth Riding Brew Pub triumphed for the second year running, winning the Beer of the Festival award, this time with its Peasholm Pale. www.northridingbrewpub.com

 

Saltaire Brewery logoSaltaire Brewery was the runner up with its Raspberry Wheat Beer www.saltairebrewery.co.uk

 

 

 

The Celtic Experience logofollowed by The Celt Experience with Iron Age. http://celtexperience.com/

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all those who helped in any way to make the festival happen.

Festival sponsor: Kirkstall Brewery
Glass sponsors: Cookridge Carpets and Watts Planning
Staff T-shirt sponsor: Pooky & Grumps
Programme sponsor: Truly Scrummy
Thanks also to: all who sponsored barrels
and to our entertainers, front of house, catering and bar staff

The Festival Team:

Beer: Duncan Childs, Alastair Dawson, Zak Glover, John Hutton, Penny Hutton
Entertainment: Scott Farquharson of SFX Studios (www.sfxstudios.co.uk)
Marketing/sponsorship: Dennis Herbert
Finance: Lesley Crann
Front of house: Lucy Childs and Emma Speight
Publicity: Tracey Wright
Displays: Brian Husband
Telesales: Dave Childs
Programme editor: Derek Glover
Design and print: "Covered"
Website editor: Maggie Ware
Administration: Rosemary Gaunt
Catering: Diane Childs

 

Final list of Beers:

Brewery

Beer Name

ABV

Location

Tasting Notes

1648 Ruby Mild 3.6 Sussex It is exactly what it is. Ruby & Mild!
Barngates Tenacious Ted 3.8 Cumbria Amber-coloured ale, vibrant hop character on the nose & palate. Bittersweet & moreish.
Beartown Ginger Bear 4.0 Cheshire Malt & hops flavour, blend with the added bite from root ginger to produce a superbly quenching finish.
Black Dog Whitby Abbey Ale 3.8 Yorkshire A light coloured hoppy bitter. Brewed with North American hops to give a distinctive flavour.
Blindmans Maverick 4.7 Somerset Well rounded, balanced ale, with the finest maris, with 3 varieties of hops. With a smooth, malty taste, leading to a light citrus finish with a mild hint of toffee throughout.
Brentwood Boston Brown 4.4 Essex A true American Brown Ale with a tantalising brown malt characteristic packed with American hops.
Burley Street Spa Francochamps 3.8 Yorkshire Made with high quantities of Styrian Goldings & American Cascade hops. This pale crisp session beer has a refreshing lemon citrus aroma & flavour.
Burton Bridge Damson Porter 4.5 Derbyshire Fruity beer with a distinctive bitter-sweet after palate.
Bushys Old Bushy Tale 4.5 Isle of Man Reddish brown beer with a hop & malt aroma, the malt tending towards treacle. Slightly sweet & malty on the palate, with distinct orangy tones and a hoppy a hint of toffee.
Celt Experience Iron Age 3.5 Wales Ruby fruity beer full of robust & unique fruity hop character. With a smooth malty caramel body & a complexion of rich fruity aromas with hints of berryfruit.
Coastal Handliner 4.0 Cornwall A traditional bitter brewed in the English style. Good hop aromas with a good balance of malt flavour.
Collingham Artisan's Choice 4.4 Yorkshire Smooth drinking golden ale with a pronounced fruity, citrus hop character.
Concrete Cow Bit 'O Bully 3.5 Milton Keynes A golden bitter, very malty, biscuity & toasty with pronounced bittering.
Covedale St George's Stout 4.5 Shropshire An old Shropshire recipe using chocolate,brown,crystal & maris otter malts. With hops from Shropshire it is bitter at first taste but with a sweet after taste.
Cross Bay Nightfall 3.8 Morecambe A balanced pale & hoppy session ale with a robust body. Following through with reasonable bitterness that boasts a huge citrusy / spicy fruit finish.
Deverell Redemption 4.5 Essex Acaramel flavour from the crystal malts & is finished with a well balanced hop flavour from our use of two of the most popular american hops.
Dow Bridge Centurion 4.0 Leicstershire Copper-coloured, well rounded best bitter. Good balance of malt & hops in the flavour.
Elgoods From Russia with Dove 3.7 Cambs Full bodied copper coloured beer with a malty character.
Elland Midnight Rider 4.4 Yorkshire Four malts & two hops giving a very dark ruby red colour with a coffee aroma & malt loaf. Also a dark chocolate flavour with a fruity sweet aftertaste & a lingering bitterness.
Elland Northern Sky 4.2 Yorkshire This is the ideal “Suppin’ Bitter” It is a very pale golden bitter with a full citrus flavour & a long hoppy finish.
Empire K2 4.3 Yorkshire Straw gold in colour, fruity citrus flavoured ale.
Exemoor Antler 4.0 Somerset Dark amber in colour, it’s a beer that has a lot more bite & character than its 4% abv might suggest.
Frog Island Fire-Bellied Toad 5.0 Northants Amber gold brew with an extraordinary long bitter / fruity finish.
Great Western Old Higby 4.8 Bristol Brewed using Boadicea hops, this dark full bodied ale is packed full of flavour .
Growler Hogwash 4.2 Suffolk A copper coloured beer with a caramel & biscuit taste.
Haworth Steam Brewing 1872 ESB TBC Yorkshire A brand new beer from this small micro brewery.
Hopback Golden Best 3.5 Wiltshire Golden coloured with a light, clean, moreish & tasty quality. Hoppy aroma & taste leading to a good, dry finish.
Ilkley Joshua Jane 3.7 Yorkshire Deceptively Different: a Nut-Brown Ale.
Ilkley Mary Jane 3.5 Yorkshire Light, hoppy, award-winning Pale Ale
Inveralmond Duncan's IPA 4.4 Perth Pale Golden Ale with fruity spicy aromas leading to an initial malty sweetness & a lasting bitter finish. Perfect for pushing the boat out.
Kelham Island Tin Can Avenger 3.8 Yorkshire Blonde lager style ale. Aromatic European hops with Lager & Munich malts creating a gallantly quaffable light beer with a lemon/pine nose & sweet refreshing palate.
Kirkby Lonsdale Jubilee Stout 5.5 Lancashire Jubilee is a smooth stout allowing hints of pale malt and liquorice to show through.
Kirkstall Black Band Porter 5.5 Yorkshire A full bodied yet beautifully smooth dark porter. Perfectly balanced.
Kirkstall Three Swords 4.5 Yorkshire Very pale and spectacularly thirst-quenching. Three different hops give this beer a delightful citrus nose.
Kirkstall Dissolution IPA 5.0 Yorkshire Delicious amber ale with a substantial hop kick.
Kirkstall Kirkstall Pale Ale 4.0 Yorkshire Wonderfully golden session beer. Fresh malt and hop aroma lead to a satisfyingly bitter finish.
Marston Moor Trip of Stoats 4.4 Yorkshire Traditional Bitter, with crystal malt giving colour & flavour, & Fuggle hops give grassy & earthy notes.
Mauldons Peggottys Porter 4.1 Suffolk A traditional dark porter brewed with roasted rye malt & choicest Fuggle hops to give a full rich biscuity flavour.
Moles Moleo & Julliet 4.4 Wiltshire Copper Coloured Ale
New Plassey Dusky Maiden Stout 4.4 Wales Complex palate brewed with three malts & roasted barley.
North Riding Peasholm Pale 4.3 Scarborough Uses a blend of lager, munich & wheat malts & generous quantities of american citra hops. Delivers a fruity initial taste & a lasting citrus bitterness.
North Riding Are there any women here 4.5 Scarborough Stout, brewed specially for the north of England beard club gathering in Scarborough.
Oakleaf Piston Porter 4.6 Hants A dry, rich Porter. With initial chocolate & toffee flavours, this finishes with a liquorice & dry roast taste, leaving a lingering bitterness.
Old Bear Black Maria 4.2 Yorkshire A wholesome jet black stout, smooth on the palate, brewed with Yorkshire malt & roasted barley & blended with two English hops, producing a strong roast malt flavour with a fruity finish.
Old Bear Yorkshire Ale 4.2 Yorkshire A classic Yorkshire bitter, copper in colour & packed with malty flavour & body with a bittersweet, nutty aftertaste.
Old Mill Liquid Gold 3.7 Yorkshire A golden coloured ale with wonderful citrus hops & a hint of something warm.
Peerless Storr Larger 4.8 Wirral Pale & hoppy cask pilsner. Though Continental in style, Storr gains its fresh citrus hop finish & pleasant malt backbone solely from the use of UK-grown lager malt & Sovereign hedgerow hops.
Purple Moose Madog's Ale 3.7 Wales "Cwrw Madog" - A refreshing session beer with a reddish hue & a bitter finish.
Ridgeside Black Night 5.0 Yorkshire Rolled oats, roasted to perfection, along with chocolate malt, roasted barley, & crystal malt help to give this strong dark beer a complex malt character with a smooth mouthfeel.
Ridgeside Jail Break 3.8 Yorkshire An easy drinking pale session beer packed with loads of Chinook & Nelson Sauvin hop flavour.
Robinsons 1892 3.3 Stockport An excellent easy drinking nut brown Cheshire ale with a dry roasted nutty malt palate & a delicate Golding dry hop aroma. Finishing with a thirst quenching balance of malt & hops.
Rudgate ISA (St&still) 3.6 Yorkshire Light golden colour, easy drinking with balanced bitterness & fruit.
Salopian Hop Twister 4.5 Shropshire A rich gold coloured ale, soft male overtones & citrus flavours. Strong focus on taut, lemony, grapefruit on the finish, balanced by a dry bitterness.
Saltaire Raspberry Blonde 4.0 Yorkshire A refreshing blonde ale infused with raspberry flavours.
Saltaire Blackberry Cascade 4.8 Yorkshire American style pale ale infused with a hint of Blackberries.
Skinners Heligan Honey 4.0 Cornwall A light refreshing bitter, pale amber in colour with distinct hoppy overtones. The subtle addition of real Cornish honey will give your palate a buzzz!
St Georges Keep Calm & Carry On 4.4 Worcestershire A combination of local hops make this beer smooth to start but with a long lasting bitterness to finish light amber in colour.
Stewarts Edinburgh No.3 4.3 Edinburgh A full bodied, smooth, cask conditioned ale, with an intense colour, rich malty taste & clean finish.
Strathaven Old Mortality 80/- 4.2 Lanarkshire A blend of five different types of malt gives this chestnut coloured ale a rich dried fruit flavour which is beautifully offset by spicy American hops.
Three Castles Love Beer 4.0 Wiltshire A light coloured session ale with a smooth taste & a soft fruity aroma. Easy drinking.
Tirril Acadamy Ale 4.2 Cumbria A dark, full bodied rich malty ale.
Titanic Compass 4.1 Burslem on Trent The ships compass has long been an essential item for any voyage. Light in colour but not in depth this intense combination of maris otter malt & the worlds finest hops leads the palate in every direction, sweet & bitter, warming yet refreshing.
Village Brewer Old Raby Ale 4.8 Yorkshire A full bodied smooth dark ale with a sweet caramel aftertaste.
Wharfebank Celtic Red 4.0 Yorkshire Irish Style Red Beer.
Wharfebank Try This 3.7 Yorkshire Traditional Bitter.
Wharfebank Verbeia Pale Ale 3.6 Yorkshire A highly drinkable session, pale golden ale, hopped with 3 distinctive varieties, giving a citrus, fruity experience. Fantastically light & refreshing.
Wolf Battle of Britain 3.9 Norfolk A copper coloured fruity session beer with bite. Golding & challenger hops combine with locally grown malt to make this a glorious full-bodied brew. - A donation is made to the Royal Airforces wings appeal for every cask sold.

 

There were 20 ciders to sample; the full list is below. The range of ciders and perries reflected those which have been most popular in the past, and in response to Festival goers' requests we brought Ampleforth Abbey Cider to the festival.

Producer

Cider Name

ABV

Location

Ampleforth Abbey Ampleforth Abbey Cider 6.5 Yorkshire
Ben Crossman's Sweet Blended Cider 6.0 Somerset
BroadOak Bristol Port Cider 6 Somerset
BroadOak KB Kingston Black Cider 7.5 Somerset
BroadOak Moonshine Cider 7.5 Somerset
Glastonbury Scruffy's Bite Apples and Pears 6.5 Somerset
Glastonbury Soap Dodger Cider 4.8 Somerset
Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze Cider 4.5 Pontypridd
Gwynt y Ddraig Haymaker Cider 6.5 Pontypridd
Hecks Port Wine of Glastonbury SV Cider 6.5 Somerset
Hecks Blakeney Red SV Perry 7.5 Herefordshire
Moles Black Rat Premium Cider 6.0 Wiltshire
Mr Whitehead's Cirrus Minor Cider 5.0 Hampshire
Mr Whitehead's Heart of Hampshire Cider 6.0 Hampshire
Mr Whitehead's Tofee Apple Cider 4.0 Hampshire
Newtons Court Winnals Longdon SV Perry 5.3 Herefordshire
Premium Drinks Cherry Perry 7.3 Yorkshire
Premium Drinks Passionfruit Perry 7.3 Yorkshire
Premium Drinks Strawberry Cider 7.3 Yorkshire
Thistly Cross Ginger Cider 4.0 East Lothian